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Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

The London "Daily Mirror"

March 31st 1978

Milestones of the month

by Chatty Cathy

Despite all the rah-rah about Margaret Thatcher, she may not last long as Tory leader...the knives are out. In Parliament, she is so pedestrian, that the Opposition doesn't bother to heckle her, nor her back-benchers to cheer her. In Cabinet , we hear, all is sturm and drang, with half of her Ministers opposing her policies, and she shooting down their suggestions, and in the country at large, she spends her time, preaching to the converted, hob-nobbing with right -wingers, while the strikes go on, the pound heads down, and the country goes haywire.Meanwhile the Conservative hierarchy plots to depose this strident arguementive woman who dared to become their boss.

March usually noted for its turbulent weather, was this year, remarkable for its political upheavals, famous personalities, and outright war.

Later in the month, the 73-year-old Karl Wallender, head of the famous family, attempted one tightrope walk too many, and fell to his death in San Juan, Porto Rico

The "Chicago News" also died this month, leaving the field clear for the "Chicago Tribune" which spawned the well-known gadfly, Dan Conway, who still writes the occasional right-wing rant for his own and other American newspapers, although reports have it that his son Augustus, now runs the Conway movie studios, in Culver City, California

Somebody also attempted to effect the death of Larry Flynt (36), founder of the notorious "Hustler Magazine," a "Playboy" imitator. Flynt was shot and left partially paralyzed outside a Georgia courtroom.

Politically, in Rhodesia, Ian Smith, at last gave in to reality, and signed an agreement with moderate black leaders, who had pledged to avoid war and to bring black majority rule into effect by year's end. Bishop Abel Muzorewa signed the agreement with Smith, enabling nationalist leaders Ndabaningi Sithole and Chief Jeremiah Chirau to form a transitional government. Smith agreed to step down following elections in 1979.

In the United States President Carter invoked the Taft-Hartley Act for an 80-day cooling off period in a coal strike. Miners had struck 3 months earlier after coal companies demanded wage and benefit cuts with the miners refusing to be forced back to work.

The US Supreme Court ruled that American Indian tribes could not try non-Indian defendants in tribal courts. It centered on the arrest of Mark Oliphant, a non-Indian, by tribal police. Oliphant argued that the tribal court does not have criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians. I don't see that, any more than I could see foreigners not being prosecuted after being arrested by British bobbies.

In Italy, Red Brigade terrorists kidnapped Aldo Moro, Italian politician and 5 time PM, and killed 5 of his bodyguards. Moro, who was planning to form a government combining his Christian Democrats and the Communist Party, was later murdered by the RB. It was later reported that police decided not to rescue Moro.This sounds like a scandal of the first order.

And in Lebanon, the Israelis, incensed by an attack by the PLO which killed 35 Jewish settlers, invaded South Lebanon to wipe out the PLO ouposts in that country. The U.N. making another of its wrong-headed interventions, sent a force to intervene - where was the U.N. when the PLO started cutting up rough?

And a near-miss for this country...The Amoco-Cadiz oil tanker spilled a record 1.6 million barrels of crude oil off the coast of France. Heaven forfend, if the tides had gone the other way, it might have been our beaches that were despoiled. Pray for the day, People, when all our various engines can run on cabbage-water.
-30-

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

The "Canadian Chronicle"

30th March 1978

Who's working?

by Valentine Mercier

I happen to belong to a music group called the Red River Rockers, and we've recently done a tour out West to Vancouver and Victoria to catch the Spring Break crowd (That holiday is celebrated really early in the balmy climes of Vancouver and Victoria in B.C.)

During the week that we played at various venues, the members of our little group didn't have much time to sight-see but there was a spell each weekday mid-morning when we found ourselves downtown, and were amazed at the number of people about.

There was a certain amount of construction going on in each city, certainly, and the shops soak up a considerable part of the workforce, but that still left a heck of a lot af able-bodied young men and women, often accompanied by a child or two, who gave one the impression that they were out for the day -every day.

We were re-assured somewhat when we visited the local libraries in each city, and were impressed with the number of staff which each carried, outnumbering the readers at times, as it happened, each library was situated near a number of government offices, and come lunch-time, our little group was swamped by the exodus of the office -workers seeking to consume the contents of their brown bags in the Spring sunshine.

All these people toiling for us ordinary citizens?.... how nice, but at what impetus to our various taxes? All these guys have to be paid

That was Vancouver. Victoria, where we played the last weekend, was a lttle different; this lttle town on Vancouver Island is a tourist spot, and, with its mild climate, a magnet for the old retirees from all across Canada, so the streets here were full of old people, tourists , and the able -bodied, enjoying legitimate leisure time.

But the preponderance was certainly with the pensioners, and we realized that the reason that they looked so young, so well-nourished, and prosperous, was because of the substantial pensions which the government was paying - a government, federal and local, which was already shelling out lots of bucks for library staff, office workers, tourist facilities, the police, the hospitals, the armed forces, so who was creating the wealth to be taxed? ...besides the tourists, construction workers, and the Red River Rockers?
-30-

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

Montreal Expos at Chicago Cubs
May 1, 1978

TOP OF THE FIRST
Jim Colborn takes the mound for the Cubs.
Bob Randall grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Chris Speier grounded to first base. <--->
Andre Dawson singled up the middle. <--1>
Chet Lemon singled through the left side. <-21>
Steve Ontiveros grounded to short. <-21>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Lynn McGlothen takes the mound for the Expos.
Larry Bowa grounded to first base. <--->
Terry Hughes struck out. <--->
Roy White grounded to first. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Gary Holman doubled down the left field line. <-2->
Jim Colborn threw a wild pitch. <3-->
Joe Keough grounded to short, scoring a run. <--->
Barry Foote grounded to first. <--->
Lynn McGlothen grounded to second. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Montreal leads 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Dave Winfield grounded to second. <--->
Jose Morales struck out. <--->
Jay Johnstone struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, Chicago trails 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Bob Randall grounded to first base. <--->
Chris Speier grounded to short. <--->
Andre Dawson tripled in the left field gap. <3-->
Chet Lemon homered around the foul pole in right for two RBIs. <--->
Steve Ontiveros grounded to first. <--->
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Montreal leads 3 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Mike Tyson struck out. <--->
Joe Ferguson flied out to left. <--->
Jim Colborn grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, Chicago trails 3 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Gary Holman flied out to center. <--->
Joe Keough grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
Barry Foote lined out to first. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Montreal leads 3 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Larry Bowa grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
Terry Hughes singled to left. <--1>
Roy White grounded to short for a double play (6-4-3). <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Chicago trails 3 to 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Lynn McGlothen singled through the right side. <--1>
Bob Randall singled to left. <-21>
Chris Speier grounded to first base. <32->
Andre Dawson was intentionally walked. <321>
Chet Lemon dribbled weakly to the catcher, scoring a run. <3-1>
Steve Ontiveros doubled down the third base line, scoring a run. <32->
Gary Holman flied out to right. <32->
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Montreal leads 5 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Dave Winfield grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Jose Morales lined out to center. <--->
Jay Johnstone singled to right-center. <--1>
Mike Tyson grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Chicago trails 5 to 0.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Joe Keough grounded to third. <--->
Barry Foote singled down the right field line. <--1>
Lynn McGlothen struck out. <--1>
Bob Randall flied out to center. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Montreal leads 5 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Joe Ferguson grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Jim Colborn grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Larry Bowa singled to right. <--1>
Terry Hughes walked. <-21>
Roy White lined out to right. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Chicago trails 5 to 0.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Chris Speier struck out. <--->
Andre Dawson grounded to short. <--->
Chet Lemon grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Montreal leads 5 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Dave Winfield tripled in the left field gap. <3-->
Jose Morales popped up foul down the third base line. <3-->
Jay Johnstone grounded to the shortstop. <3-->
Mike Tyson grounded to second. <3-->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Chicago trails 5 to 0.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Clay Carroll now pitching for the Cubs. <--->
Steve Ontiveros walked. <--1>
Gary Holman walked. <-21>
Joe Keough grounded to third. <32->
Barry Foote grounded to the pitcher. The lead runner was tagged out at home. <3-1>
Lynn McGlothen grounded to the pitcher. <3-1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Montreal leads 5 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Joe Ferguson struck out. <--->
Jose Cardenal pinch hit for Clay Carroll. <--->
Jose Cardenal flied out to center. <--->
Larry Bowa popped up to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Chicago trails 5 to 0.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Terry Forster now pitching for the Cubs. <--->
Bob Randall doubled to left-center. <-2->
Chris Speier walked. <-21>
Andre Dawson grounded to short for a double play (6-4-3). <3-->
Chet Lemon singled to left field, scoring a run. <--1>
Steve Ontiveros singled down the first base line. <-21>
Terry Forster threw a wild pitch. <32->
Gary Holman singled to center, scoring a run. <3-1>
Joe Keough singled through the hole, scoring a run. <-21>
Dwight Bernard now pitching for the Cubs. <-21>
Barry Foote struck out. <-21>
3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Montreal leads 8 to 0.

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

New York Mets at San Diego Padres
May 25, 1978

TOP OF THE FIRST
Brian Allard takes the mound for the Padres.
Bob Sheldon singled back through the middle. <--1>
Bob Sheldon went for an extra base and was thrown out at second. <--->
Roy Staiger flied out to right. <--->
Ken Griffey flied out to left. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Nolan Ryan takes the mound for the Mets.
Jerry Remy popped up to the second baseman. <--->
Bucky Dent singled to right. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Pat Spratt flied out to left. <--1>
Mike Lum homered over the center field fence for two RBIs. <--->
Ray Knight walked. <--1>
Steve Yeager grounded to first. <--1>
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Steve Garvey flied out to left. <--->
Johnny Bench singled to right. <--1>
Brian Asselstine struck out. <--1>
Tim Foli struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, New York trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Willie Crawford walked. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Jerry Morales struck out. <--1>
Willie Crawford was caught stealing second. <--->
Brian Allard walked. <--1>
Jerry Remy popped up to first base. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the second, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Curt Blefary grounded to second. <--->
Nolan Ryan walked. <--1>
Bob Sheldon struck out. <--1>
Roy Staiger popped up to second. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the third, New York trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Bucky Dent grounded to first base. <--->
Pat Spratt dribbled weakly to the catcher. <--->
Mike Lum walked. <--1>
Ray Knight walked. <-21>
Steve Yeager lined out to second. <-21>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the third, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Ken Griffey struck out. <--->
Steve Garvey popped up foul down the first base line. <--->
Johnny Bench flied out to right field. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, New York trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Willie Crawford grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Jerry Morales grounded to third. <--->
Brian Allard struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Brian Asselstine lined out to left. <--->
Tim Foli popped up to the shortstop. <--->
Curt Blefary flied out to center. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, New York trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Jerry Remy singled down the left field line. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Bucky Dent laid down a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman. <-2->
Pat Spratt struck out. <-2->
Mike Lum lined out to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Nolan Ryan flied out to right. <--->
Bob Sheldon grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Roy Staiger walked. <--1>
Steve Yeager allowed a passed ball. <-2->
Ken Griffey doubled to deep right field, scoring a run. <-2->
Steve Garvey was intentionally walked. <-21>
Johnny Bench grounded to second. <-21>
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, New York trails 2 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Ray Knight homered over the left field fence. <--->
Steve Yeager singled to left. <--1>
Willie Crawford grounded to the pitcher for a double play (1-6-3). <--->
Jerry Morales flied out to center field. <--->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, San Diego leads 3 to 1.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Dai Boyd came in to play Second Base. <--->
Brian Asselstine doubled to deep right field. <-2->
Tim Foli singled to center. <3-1>
Curt Blefary struck out. <3-1>
The Padres brought the infield in.
Dave Oliver pinch hit for Nolan Ryan. <3-1>
Dave Oliver grounded to first for a double play (3-6-1). <3-->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, New York trails 3 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Greg Minton now pitching for the Mets. <--->
Brian Allard struck out. <--->
Dai Boyd singled down the left field line. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Bucky Dent grounded to third. <-2->
Pat Spratt doubled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <-2->
Mike Lum lined out to right. <-2->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, San Diego leads 4 to 1.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Rusty Gerhardt now pitching for the Padres. <--->
Bob Sheldon struck out. <--->
Roy Staiger flied out to left. <--->
Ken Griffey struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, New York trails 4 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Ray Knight grounded to third. <--->
Steve Yeager grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Willie Crawford singled to right. <--1>
Willie Crawford went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Jerry Morales doubled to right field, scoring a run. <-2->
Jerry Morales advanced on the error by Ken Griffey. <3-->
Tippy Martinez now pitching for the Mets. <3-->
Rusty Gerhardt struck out. <3-->
1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, San Diego leads 5 to 1.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Steve Garvey doubled in the right field gap. <-2->
Johnny Bench flied out to center field. <-2->
Brian Asselstine was intentionally walked. <-21>
Tim Foli singled through the left side. <321>
Curt Blefary grounded to the third baseman for a double play (5-4-3). <32->

PADRES WIN: 5-1

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

From the desk of Dan Conway

April 5th

A note from his daughter, Augusta "Gussie" Conway.

"Hi Pops
I guess you read my article in the "Clarion". I propose to make a start by the erection of a mulching plant on the farm where the resultant odours will offend only the deer and the convicts who work the place (by arrangement with the Warden of the local penetentiary). I also intend to have built a recycling depot in the Culver Industrial Complex. Would Conway Construction be up for either or both these contracts?"

Dan's memo in reply

"You betcha, Hon...I'll send my people to meet your people to hammer out a deal, soonest. Congrats on your article, by the way - I'll get the "Clarion" to farm it out to the nation's newspapers...it's worth spreading it about - like fertilizer to revitalize sterile ground"

To Joe Carr, head of Conway Computer Division.
"Joe, what do we know about the Topfords Computer? We may be working with them soon. If we don't already have one, get a model and examine to see how it could be improved."

Dan's note to his son Augustus "Augie" Conway.

"Thanks for the copy of your screenplay "Seventies Lysistrata" . Think you ought to change the title, but it's a gas otherwise...don't know what your Mom will say about all the sex, but you can write for my "Company Town" any day. Attaboy, Son! "

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

The "San Diego Clarion"

April 5th 1978

Recycling, replenishment

by Augusta Conway

Ever since I read Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring", I have been concerned about this Earth's future existence; before she enlightened me, I used to tell myself "Don't worry abo0ut this concrete jungle that we're making of the world, Gus, in the end, Mother Nature will grow back, and bury all this artifice, as she has buried countless dynasties in the past; future archeologists..." I comforted myself ".... will dig deep to find remnants of our civilization, and, no doubt, find us wanting"

But Miss Carson suggested that there may not be any future archeologists or anybody else, if we keep on treating this planet the way we have; she points out that what we are not consuming or taking out of this earth, we are polluting, so whatever good stuff remains, become unusable.

Her book has been most influential in bucking up how we treat our air, our water, our soil, many of us, now, try to cut down on waste and consumption in our lives, but this is not enough - we are still losing the battle...we're running out of farmland, forests, minerals, fresh water, and our air is losing oxygen.

We must take more positive action. To this end, I, as a Congresswoman have written a Bill which I will present to both President Carter and Congress, urging that this nation undertake a campaign, not merely of cutting down our consumption, and wastage, as at present, but by retrieval of that which we cannot, avoidably, but consume and waste. I am referring to recycling of garbage, and replenishment of foodstuffs.

We need to build more plants to smelt waste metals, factories to turn waste paper into new products, kitchen waste to revitalize our soil.

Besides, lessening our human impact on our environment, this Bill suggests an economic benefit to these United States by boosting at least, three entire industries, making for higher employment, and increased economic activity.

With good old American know-how and vigour, we can solve this problem.
-30-

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

It's so hard to understand; last year's champions, the San Diego Padres had a most unimpressive Grapefruit season, winning but 5 of their 17 games, getting whitewashed twice by a galvanized Montreal Expos team who swept the Padres home and away, piling up 29 runs against the feeble Padres' 11 in the six games which they met .

And of the Padres' 5 wins, four of those came at the expense of the Houston Astros, who were almost as lack-lustre as San Diego in the Spring games.

Yet an examination of individual statistics reveal that the Padres line-up did fine- they just couldn't bring the runners in to Home - and the pitching was respectable. Most of the hitters sported batting averages of well over .300, and the obas ranged from the adequate to the astronomical, while the fielding of the team was phenomenal, not a single error was recorded by any player.

In short, the team as a whole, looks more than competent, which makes their abject showing in February and March all the more incomprehensible.

However, it is a comfort to know that all the old faithfuls, Spratt, Lum, Morales and company, with the exciting addition of rookie first baseman Tom Kelly,are doing their thing, and the rotation of Mitchell, Kuhaulua,Hall, Revill, and Allard is winding up nicely, whilst Rusty Gerhardt is closing with his usual aplomb.

So, despite this mystifying pre-season, Folks, I think you need not worry too much about last year's champions, and this season's favourites, the 1978 San Diego Padres.
-30-

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

American League at National League
July 10, 1978

TOP OF THE FIRST
Don Sutton takes the mound for the National League.
Rod Carew grounded to third. <--->
Mitchell Page struck out. <--->
Cecil Cooper doubled down the left field line. <-2->
Carlton Fisk grounded to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Steve Carlton takes the mound for the American League.
Mark Belanger singled to center field. <--1>
Pete Rose singled to right. <-21>
Ted Simmons grounded to the shortstop. <32->
Mike Schmidt walked. <321>
Andre Dawson doubled down the right field line for two RBIs. <32->
John Milner struck out. <32->
Ken Griffey singled to center for two RBIs. <--1>
Fernando Gonzalez flied out to left field. <--1>
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, National League leads 4 to 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Aurelio Rodriguez grounded to second. <--->
Ollie Brown lined out to the shortstop. <--->
Don Money singled down the right field line. <--1>
Rusty Torres grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, American League trails 4 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Mike Thompson now pitching for the American League. <--->
Greg Luzinski pinch hit for Don Sutton. <--->
Greg Luzinski grounded to second. <--->
Mark Belanger grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Pete Rose grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, National League leads 4 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
J.R. Richard now pitching for the National League. <--->
U L Washington pinch hit for Mike Thompson. <--->
U L Washington singled into right field. <--1>
Rod Carew singled to center field. <-21>
Mitchell Page struck out. <-21>
Cecil Cooper grounded to third for a double play (5-4-3). <-2->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the third, American League trails 4 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Bert Blyleven now pitching for the American League. <--->
Ted Simmons flied out to center. <--->
Mike Schmidt grounded to short. <--->
Andre Dawson reached second on a throwing error by the second baseman. <-2->
John Milner grounded to second. <-2->
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, National League leads 4 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Carlton Fisk doubled to the wall in right. <-2->
Aurelio Rodriguez singled up the middle. <3-1>
Ollie Brown grounded to the second baseman, forcing the runner at second. <3-1>
Don Money grounded to the second baseman, scoring a run. <--1>
Rusty Torres walked. <-21>
Doug DeCinces pinch hit for Bert Blyleven. <-21>
Doug DeCinces singled to right field. <321>
Rod Carew struck out. <321>
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 3 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, American League trails 4 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Mario Soto now pitching for the American League. <--->
Ken Griffey flied out to center. <--->
Fernando Gonzalez grounded to third. <--->
Dave Kingman pinch hit for J.R. Richard. <--->
Dave Kingman singled to center. <--1>
Mark Belanger walked. <-21>
Pete Rose flied out to center. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, National League leads 4 to 1.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Tom Seaver now pitching for the National League. <--->
Mitchell Page grounded to third. <--->
Cecil Cooper singled through the left side. <--1>
Carlton Fisk doubled into the left field corner. <32->
Aurelio Rodriguez grounded to short, scoring a run. <--1>
Ollie Brown struck out. <--1>
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, American League trails 4 to 2.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Ted Simmons popped up to second. <--->
Mike Schmidt flied out to center. <--->
Andre Dawson singled through the right side. <--1>
Andre Dawson went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
John Milner struck out. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, National League leads 4 to 2.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Don Money grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Rusty Torres struck out. <--->
Bob Watson pinch hit for Mario Soto. <--->
Bob Watson doubled down the right field line. <-2->
Rod Carew struck out. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, American League trails 4 to 2.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Mike Thompson now pitching for the American League. <--->
Ken Griffey singled through the left side. <--1>
Fernando Gonzalez hit an infield single to short. <-21>
Pat Spratt pinch hit for Tom Seaver. <-21>
Pat Spratt walked. <321>
Dave Winfield pinch hit for Mark Belanger. <321>
Dave Winfield grounded to first for a double play (3-6-1). <3-->
Pete Rose walked. <3-1>
Ted Simmons popped up foul down the third base line. <3-1>
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, National League leads 5 to 2.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Dennis Eckersley now pitching for the National League. <--->
Joe Torre came in to play First Base. <--->
Mitchell Page grounded to third. <--->
Cecil Cooper popped up behind home plate. <--->
Carlton Fisk walked. <--1>
Aurelio Rodriguez grounded to the pitcher. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, American League trails 5 to 2.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Mike Schmidt struck out. <--->
Andre Dawson grounded to short. <--->
Joe Torre singled up the middle. <--1>
Ken Griffey grounded to the pitcher. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, National League leads 5 to 2.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Ollie Brown singled through the hole. <--1>
Don Money laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. <-2->
Rusty Torres singled to center. <3-1>
Walt Williams pinch hit for Mike Thompson. <3-1>
Walt Williams grounded to short for a double play (6-4-3). <3-->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, American League trails 5 to 2.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Jim Kern now pitching for the American League. <--->
Fernando Gonzalez singled into the left field corner. <--1>
Johnny Bench pinch hit for Dennis Eckersley. <--1>
Johnny Bench grounded to the third baseman for a double play (5-4-3). <--->
Dave Winfield grounded to the pitcher. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, National League leads 5 to 2.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Will McEnaney now pitching for the National League. <--->
Rod Carew singled down the right field line. <--1>
Mitchell Page singled through the left side. <-21>
Cecil Cooper flied out to center. <-21>
Carlton Fisk walked. <321>
Dave Smith now pitching for the National League. <321>
Aurelio Rodriguez lined out to left. <321>
Rod Carew tagged up and scored. <-21>
Ollie Brown grounded to the second baseman. <-21>

NATIONAL LEAGUE WIN: 5-3

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

Extract from Valentine Mercier's Diary.

"[/BMay 1st 1978
Have decided on mission in life - give Canada back to Indians -English giving away their empire piece by piece, good thing, too. Every Colonial power should do this having no right to take it in first place, thus, the original inhabitants have every right to fight (what the Colonial spin-doctors now call "terrorism") take it back, by whatever means , including violent. The Greeks in Cyprus, the Blacks in Rhodesia,the Indians in North America.

Have mentioned this to Evelyn, big argument, she says if not colonized by superior peoples, such countries would not be as civilized as they are today. I said, we could not know that. Before the colonists came, each tribe clan or social group had its mores and customs which ensured the survival of the tribe, sure they fought other groups , now and then, but for as much valid reason as we make war today - often they had better reasons than us for mayhem - survival of their tribe, clan, or social group, for example

The thing is, if the colonists had let them develop in peace, and been content just to attend to their own development, the world, today would be so different from the mess that it's in now. That difference, alone, justifies my argument that colonists should have claimed only uninhabited land.

Evelyn says that there has never been an entirely uninhabited land, there's always been a tribe of Eskimos,in the Arctic, and cannibals in the South American jungles. Ev, she knows her geography, I know my history.

When I'm older I'll go into politics to form a party to give North America back to the Indians, but softly, softly. I'll start by supporting those who want Quebec back to the French ..then. we can present it back to the Indians - that'll be a start."

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

The London "Daily Mirror"

April 30th 1978

Milestones of the month

by Chatty Cathy

A Gutenberg bible sold for a record $2.2 million in New York City, early this month. It was bought by Martin Breslauer for the State museum of Baden Wurttemberg. All that money? Holy smackers! I bet that put up the entrance fee to the museum.

In Somalia a coup attempt failed. That do make a nice change -the military usually gets its way...that was certainly the case in Chile this month, when a law was enacted that gave amnesty to the armed forces.

Former General Lucius D. Clay died at age 81...he was the Commandant of West Berlin who nearly caused World War Three, by wanting to take on the Russians who cut off the West German town during the late 'Forties. Fair play, he did supervise the Airlift that enabled the besiged Berliners and Americans to survive.https://www.google.ca/search?q=Gener...OoCOve8Af0mqwI

The U.S. Senate voted to turn the Panama Canal over to the Panamanians - in 1999! I'll bet the Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos was saying "Gracias for nada, Yanqui!"

Former Beatle Ringo Starr is still active in show business - he's appearing in a t.v production of Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper" I'd like to have seen that...Ringo was always the most anonymous of the Fab four, tucked away behind his drums, but to my mind he was the one most responsible for their success, with the great beat that he knocked out - that group rocked.

Convicted Watergate defendant John D. Ehrlichman was released from an Arizona prison after serving just 18 months. I suppose that counts as a slap on ***Bboth wrists...amazing how the biggest crooks get the lightest sentences, ennit? The biggest Watergate crook, Nixon, going Scot-free.

As if to point out, in contrast, that life ain't a bit fair, in West Virginia, 51 honest construction workers, just doing their job, plunged to their deaths when a scaffold inside a cooling tower at the nuclear Pleasants Power Station on Willow Island fell 168 feet to the ground.

Whilst nearer home, man's inhumanity to man was exemplified by the episode of, in Northern Ireland, Brendan Megraw (23) was abducted from his home in Belfast and killed by IRA paramilitaries. He became one of the victims known to us, lately,of "the Disappeared".
-30-

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

Augie's "Lysistrata" (Continued)

For a tyro producer, Augustus Conway was going great guns...by mid April of 1978, he had for his film of "Seventies Lysistrata" his self-written screenplay which was a satire of his own native England, labelled as that country presently was, as "The sick man of Europe" with its propensity for violence, anarchy, deviant sex, and eccentricity verging on madness

In Augie's version of the Greek classic, Lysistrata now becomes "Lizzie Strata " a 1970s shopkeeper and spouse of a hapless Trades Union leader who can't keep his fellow workers at the local automobile factory, the small town of Nether Stabill's main industry, from incessant unofficial strikes over trivial, artificial issues .

Lizzie, a dominant and influential woman in her own right,(based on Britain's Margaret Thatcher who absolutely dazzled Augie), and many of her female chums, do indeed withhold their sexual favours from their husbands and boy-friends employed at the firm, in an effort to quell the workers anarchy, but are dished, ultimately by the strikers, deprived of a normal sexual relationship with their women, adapt themselves quite comfortably with copulating, instead, with the local prostitutes, animals, and each other, the movie closing with Lizzie and her friends, desperately attempting to get their men - who, incidentally quit striking anyway - back to the sexual norm.

There was much head-shaking when Augie read out his screenplay to the assembled Conway Studio executives; chief among the dissidents was Bill Morgan, whom Lilian had advised the fledgling producer, was the appropriate director for a sexy comedy. She had also been most useful in gathering a cast together, a group of actresses and actors, like herself, still very talented, yet most attractive, but somehow finding themselves among the 95% of people in the movie industry who are but sketchily employed in it, their main attraction to Augie, already thinking like a movie mogul, that they would come more cheaply than established stars.

Morgan, who was also a Brit, showed no awe of Augie's status as the great Dan Conway's son "Taking the Mick out of the Brits, with a Greek tale that nobody's heard of with a cast of unknowns?....you're joking, of course, Mr Conway" Was his first reaction.

"After the advent of "Caligula" and 'The Story of O'...?" Augie riposted "...you must be joking, Bill - today, in show business, anything goes- no matter how fantastic"

The upshot was of course, that as Augustus Conway was the movie mogul paying the freight, and giving the orders, "Seventies, Lysistrata" began principal photography in Mid -April of 1978.

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.

Re: "SPIKES" ...The Conway chronicles...

Los Angeles Dodgers at Montreal Expos
July 13, 1978

TOP OF THE FIRST
Lynn McGlothen takes the mound for the Expos.
Ed Brinkman singled to center. <--1>
The Dodgers put on the hit and run.
Ed Brinkman was caught stealing second. <--->
Rusty Staub grounded to first. <--->
Tom Paciorek reached first on a fielding error by the catcher. <--1>
Sixto Lezcano flied out to center. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Doyle Alexander takes the mound for the Dodgers.
Joe Keough flied out to center field. <--->
Chris Speier grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Andre Dawson singled to right. <--1>
Chet Lemon struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Bob Bailey singled to right. <--1>
Bill Robinson struck out. <--1>
The Dodgers put on the hit and run.
Joe Torre flied out to right. <--1>
Bob Bailey stole second. <-2->
Lute Barnes struck out. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Steve Ontiveros grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Pete Mackanin homered into the right field bleachers. <--->
Gary Holman flied out to center. <--->
Barry Foote grounded to short. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, Montreal leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Doyle Alexander grounded to short. <--->
Ed Brinkman grounded to first base. <--->
Rusty Staub singled to right. <--1>
Tom Paciorek popped up to second. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Los Angeles trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Lynn McGlothen flied out to left. <--->
Joe Keough singled to center. <--1>
Joe Keough advanced on the error by Bill Robinson. <-2->
Chris Speier grounded to the third baseman. <-2->
Andre Dawson grounded to second. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, Montreal leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Sixto Lezcano popped up foul down the third base line. <--->
Bob Bailey grounded to short. <--->
Bill Robinson grounded to first. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Los Angeles trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Chet Lemon flied out to center field. <--->
Steve Ontiveros grounded to first. <--->
Pete Mackanin struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Montreal leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Joe Torre reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop. <--1>
Lute Barnes struck out. <--1>
Doyle Alexander popped up to the pitcher. <--1>
Ed Brinkman struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Los Angeles trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Gary Holman struck out. <--->
Barry Foote struck out. <--->
Lynn McGlothen flied out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Montreal leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Ed Brinkman lined out to left field. <--->
Rusty Staub singled through the right side. <--1>
Tom Paciorek grounded to third for a double play (5-4-3). <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Los Angeles trails 4 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Joe Keough struck out. <--->
Chris Speier grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Andre Dawson walked. <--1>
Chet Lemon grounded back to the pitcher. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Montreal leads 4 to 0.

"Whate'er should be our Zodiac's star
We all are born to make or mar.
To each is gi'en a bag of tools
Some mentors, and a set of rules:
And each must carve, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-stone"

(Author unknown)

Generation 35.

"Spikes" The cleats on baseball boots
"Spikes" On which newspaper editors impale copy for future reference, or ultimate destruction.